|
|
|
San Diego County Safety Net Study - UCSD's Perspective |
|
Overview
UCSD applauds the release of the first phase of the San Diego County Health Care Safety Net Study, an in-depth assessment of the County’s health care services for the under- and uninsured over the next 20 years. UCSD will cooperate fully in the ensuing dialogue as challenges and opportunities are identified.
Challenges
The San Diego safety net is vulnerable. The system faces significant challenges, including:
-
Shrinking reimbursement from commercial and public payers.
-
Growing numbers of under- and uninsured patients.
-
Drug and technology costs.
-
Potential closure of South Bay hospitals, which would impact all providers.
Steps Toward a Solution
-
Improved funding for hospitals and providers.
-
Better use of existing resources.
-
Improved collaboration among providers, using technologies such as telemedicine to improve care.
UCSD’s Role
UCSD will continue to be part of the region’s health care safety net. Although UCSD has an inpatient market share of only 8.5 percent, it provides care to 38 percent of the County’s uninsured. As the region’s only academic medical center, in addition to providing patient care, UCSD conducts research to improve health and cure disease, and trains tomorrow’s doctors and pharmacists. It is critical that we take steps to ensure UCSD does not join the list of financially vulnerable hospitals, in order to continue filling our multiple missions. Examples include:
-
Partnering with Alliance Healthcare Foundation and San Diego Family Care, UCSD is piloting a shared electronic appointment and referral system with local clinics, which will help us streamline patient care.
-
UCSD physicians fill the “specialty care gap” by serving the under and uninsured in key areas such as pain management, neurology, orthopedics, high risk obstetrics, and gynecologic cancer.
-
UCSD operates three free community clinics and partners with the Health and Faith Alliance and St. Vincent de Paul to care for the uninsured.
-
UCSD faculty, students, interns and residents work throughout the region at community clinics.
-
UCSD’s role as an academic medical center brings financial and medical resources to Scripps Chula Vista Hospital through the federal AHEC program.
More Information
|